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Our website is hard for us old-fashioned types to edit (www.gildedleafbindery.com), hence the Gilded Leaf blog! Even neo-Luddites can figure out how to post photos of new bookbindings, current projects, tools for sale, etc. We hope you enjoy.
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Rebinding a Family Bible

Our usual goal when restoring a family Bible is to reuse the original spine and boards. Repairs are hidden underneath the original materials and the book retains the look and feel of a period piece. When the covers are missing or unsalvageable, the best approach is not always clear. Because the sculpted boards and the blocked gold tooling are an irreplaceable part of the book's history, there's no easy way to recreate the look and feel of an antique Bible from the mid to late 1800's. While sculpting boards and having metal dies made for tooling is possible, it's fairly expensive.

These covers suffered heavy water damage, shrinking the leather and exposing large areas of the boards beneath. We were able to salvage the center portion of the leather, sculpt new boards to receive it, and suggest the correct period by a combination of blind and gold tooling.

It's far more common for the spine to be missing, and we face the same difficulties in matching intricate tooling without scanning the original and making new dies. Here's a recent effort that suggests the ornate original and blends well with the original boards.

About Me

I am a bookbinder, specializing in restoration and period-style leatherwork. I can be reached at (865) 621-7923. You're welcome to visit our shop in Maryville, Tennessee (just outside of Knoxville at the foot of the Smoky Mountains). Seems like I'm always there, except when I'm not, so you're well-advised to call for an appointment.

Bookbinding Tools For Sale

For sale or trade are a number of duplicate tools not currently needed in our bindery. (Down toward the bottom of my posts.) I've based prices on both what we need to get back out of them and at what cost they're currently available. So, prices are firmish, but if you wish to make an offer (or point out that we're over or under priced based on current fluctuations in the dollar, sunspots, etc.) have at it. I'm open to trades as well: bookbinding tools, unusual musical instruments... Currently at the top of my wish list are a Louet Vertical Plough and a full set of Uilleann Pipes.

If you're able to pick up here in Maryville, I have a couple binder's wooden type cases (narrower than printer's cases) with a lot of drawers, made from oak with metal handles.